In February 2023, Daniel Hagström, a distinguished and award-winning mastering engineer, inaugurated his independent studio after spending over nine years at Finland’s premier studio complex. Collaborating with some of the most acclaimed recording artists locally and internationally, he upgraded his monitor setup with Amphion’s Two18 and BaseTwo25 bass extension system, powered by Amphion amplifiers.
This bold move was instantly justified when his inaugural mastering project in the new space was accepted without alteration.
Venturing into Uncharted Territory: Hagström’s New Studio
Seeking a fresh perspective and a new challenge, Hagström orchestrated his move to a building buzzing with audio professionals and creatives, including Universal Music Finland’s studios, in Helsinki’s vibrant creative hub. “This change benefits my business,” Hagström admits, “but I left my old room and speakers behind. It was a risky move for a mastering engineer, but it turned out wonderfully.”
Hagström was previously exposed to Amphion monitors but only had the opportunity to compare them directly with another brand at an industry event. The experience caught his attention. “I was drawn to the speed, the low end, and the resolution of the Amphions,” he explains. While acknowledging that monitor preferences are highly individual, he found the Amphions more natural and straightforward. He felt a tangible improvement in the low-end handling and resolution, deciding then and there to try them if he ever changed rooms.
A Seamless Transition: Amphion’s Impact on Hagström’s Work
With everything else already in place, the arrival of the Amphion speakers marked a tense moment for Hagström, especially as he was about to embark on a weekend trip. Upon returning, he had just minutes to acquaint himself with the new setup before diving into his first project. His initial impressions were positive, and everything went off without a hitch. “I played one reference track, then started mastering. Version number one was approved, with no revisions,” he recalls.
Hagström’s rich background spans a variety of audio roles, from building his first studio and experimenting with old synths and software to composing, producing, and engineering for various media. Now focusing on mastering, his clients include big names in various industries, such as Gettomasa, Costi, JVG, Mikael Gabriel, BESS, Juha Tapio, Nublu, Justinas Jarutis, Bauer Media, and X-Factor Finland. One of his accolades includes an Emma (Finland’s Grammy) for mastering Gettomasa’s 2022 album, Vastustamaton.
Amphion’s speakers have transformed Hagström’s monitoring approach during mastering. He shifted from a measured tuning approach to one where he listens and reacts to the speakers without dwelling on the room or response. “I do what I think is necessary, print the master, and send it out. That’s what changed, and it’s working amazingly well,” he says.
Besides mastering, Hagström’s talents shine in his work on Mediatonic’s hit video game, Fall Guys, attracting over 50 million players. Initially involved in production, mixing, and mastering, he contributed to composition and production. He usually mixes and masters in his new studio but composes at home on his laptop.
About Amphion
Amphion Loudspeakers Ltd., founded in 1998, focuses on creating speakers known for their honest and accurate sound reproduction. With precise driver integration and controlled dispersion technology, they offer consistent results across various room acoustics. All their products, including the Amphion amplifiers, are handcrafted in Finland, guaranteeing enduring listening quality.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
